Control Your Emotions

Affection

Affection is a context-specific tightrope men must walk. Using affection, an almost universally positive emotion, equally in all circumstances will net any man an irritated woman. Women want you to be affectionate, but as much as they love affection, they tend to prefer you play down the public displays of affection (PDAs). PDAs have a tendency to undermine a woman's feeling of independence, so try not to step on her toes and control your emotions. Holding hands in public, a light kiss or walking arm in arm are all perfect public expressions of affection. Save the true affection for when you’re behind a veil of privacy.

Emo-meter rating: 2 in public, 4 in private.

Sadness

Feeling sad is a very vulnerable emotional state to be in, for anyone. Traditionally, men haven’t really expressed sadness outside the context of moderate to heavy drinking. Tears weren't allowed to come out, but liquor went in — and it was never done in front of a woman. That was the understanding a man had with this most troubling emotion. Today, women want to know that a man feels sad on occasion. If he doesn't, women may begin to question his connection with reality, which can be quite depressing. Modern men need to learn to control their emotions and show that they are sad every once in a while, and do so in the company of women. Choose the time and place wisely as the expression of sadness should only be shown under the gravest of circumstances. The death of a loved one, for example, would be appropriate — the love scene in Titanic would not.

Emo-meter rating: 1

emotional guidance

Contrary to popular belief, men have always had emotions, and these emotions have always been expressed. The company and context of such expression has changed, as in the past this largely took place behind closed doors and was, by and large, a solitary experience. Today, the expression has changed to accommodate what women think they want when it comes to the way men feel. This by no means gives us license to go overboard in expressing our emotions, however; as men, we must remember to exercise control in emotional circumstances in order to save ourselves from being labeled weak or unmanly.